The Catholic Church is ent

 

 

 

 

 

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Una publicación compartida por Vatican News (@vaticannews)

ering a new chapter. This Thursday, Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old from Chicago, was elected as the 267th pope in Christian history. He has chosen the name Leo XIV.

 

 

 

 

 

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Una publicación compartida por Vatican News in italiano (@vaticannewsit)

At exactly 6:07 p.m. local time, white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, sending a wave of excitement through the crowd waiting in St. Peter’s Square. The conclave of 133 cardinals, which had been meeting since May 7, had made its decision. Moments later, the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out, and thousands of people cheered and prayed together, knowing they were witnessing history.

Soon after, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti stepped onto the central balcony and announced the famous Latin words: “Habemus Papam”— “We have a pope.” Then, for the first time, Leo XIV appeared before the world, smiling and waving to a sea of joyful faces under the Roman sky.

With his election, Prevost becomes the first-ever pope from the United States — a groundbreaking moment for the Church. He was chosen with the required two-thirds majority, meaning he received at least 89 votes from his fellow cardinals.

Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio), who had served since 2013. Francis was elected after five rounds of voting; Benedict XVI needed four, and John Paul II eight. Looking back, some conclaves were even longer — Pius XI was elected after 14 rounds in 1922, and John XXIII after 11 in 1958.

 

 

 

 

 

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Una publicación compartida por Vatican News in italiano (@vaticannewsit)

But beyond the numbers and traditions, this election marks something bigger: a sign of the Church’s growing diversity and global presence. For the first time ever, a North American will lead the Catholic world — a powerful symbol of change, unity, and faith reaching across borders.